Airbnb News and Short-Term Rentals

Airbnb continues to be a major force in the travel industry, redefining how people book and experience accommodations worldwide. At PhocusWire, we bring you the latest Airbnb news, along with broader coverage of the short-term rental sector, including platform innovation, market trends, and regulatory developments that shape this fast-moving space.

Updates on Airbnb, short-term rental trends, and regulatory shifts

Track how Airbnb is evolving its product offerings, enhancing guest and host tools, and adapting to consumer demand for more flexible, immersive travel. Our stories examine the intersection of tech innovation, policy, and platform strategy—providing insight into how short-term rentals continue to influence the broader hospitality landscape.

Airbnb claims 1.2M listings are on enhanced cleaning program
News / Online
Airbnb claims 1.2M listings are on enhanced cleaning program
By Kevin May | August 31, 2020
The program was launched in June in a bid to showcase properties that had demonstrated enhanced hygiene standards and cleaning, or set booking buffers between guests. Read More
reddoorz-wit-covid-recovery
News / Online
RedDoorz CEO chases profitability, sees opportunities for travel companies to IPO
By Yeoh Siew Hoon - WebInTravel | August 25, 2020
As Airbnb prepares for its much-anticipated IPO, RedDoorz co-founder and CEO Amit Saberwal predicts there will be more strong companies that emerge out of COVID and want to go public. Read More
Airbnb is set for a blockbuster IPO - here's why
Opinion / Online
Airbnb is set for a blockbuster IPO - here's why
By Tom Caton - AirDNA | August 24, 2020
Even amid COVID-19, Airbnb may be sneakily well-positioned to come out on top. Read More
Airbnb files for IPO despite crisis year for the travel industry
News / Online
Airbnb files for IPO despite crisis year for the travel industry
By Kevin May | August 19, 2020
The question of when Airbnb would move towards its long-awaited IPO has followed the company long before the coronavirus pandemic hit the industry in early-2020. Read More
Facebook lets activity providers take bookings for virtual events
News / Online
Facebook lets activity providers take bookings for virtual events
By Kevin May | August 19, 2020
The social network added an event booking, promotion and payment service to the functionality of business pages, effectively allowing any provider to operate within the social network's ecosystem. Read More
Short-term rentals and misalignment of the marketplace
Opinion / Distribution
Short-term rentals and misalignment of the marketplace
By Jared Alster - Dune7 | July 29, 2020
The distribution landscape for short-term vacation rentals is dominated by marketplaces. However, the pandemic has revealed some weak points and misalignment of incentives within the traditional... Read More
airbnb -cleaning-program
News / Online
Airbnb expands COVID cleaning protocol program and designation to 50 countries and regions
By Mitra Sorrells | July 21, 2020
Airbnb is now offering cleaning guidelines and materials to hosts in 50 countries and regions, up from 12 when it launched last month. Read More
Sounding Off: OTA version 2.0 is likely to come from outside the travel industry
Interview / Online
Sounding Off: OTA version 2.0 is likely to come from outside the travel industry
By PhocusWire | July 17, 2020
The brands that are able to position themselves in this as-yet undetermined role will most likely be all things to all people - selling more than just a form of accommodation and a flight. Read More
airbnb-one-million-bookings
News / Online
Airbnb claims 1 million nights booked in one day for first time since March 3
By Mitra Sorrells | July 15, 2020
Airbnb says users booked more than one million nights' worth of future stays on July 8, the first time that has happened since the outbreak triggered lockdowns in dozens of countries worldwide. Read More
How investors are taking the long view on opportunities in short-term rentals
News / Online
How investors are taking the long view on opportunities in short-term rentals
By Linda Fox | July 15, 2020
Private accommodation has been hard hit by the pandemic, leading some in the investment community to ask whether the size of the opportunity will be as great when the travel industry recovers. Read More
Airbnb claims Amsterdam rental ban "violates" rights of residents
News / Online
Airbnb claims Amsterdam rental ban "violates" rights of residents
By Kevin May | June 29, 2020
The three districts in question have around 1,500 private accommodation rental properties for tourists - around 6% of the amount available in the entire city. Read More
Airbnb won't take IPO off the table for 2020 despite business collapse
News / Online
Airbnb won't take IPO off the table for 2020 despite business collapse
By Kevin May | June 24, 2020
"We spent 12 years building Airbnb's business and lost almost all of it in the matter of four to six weeks." Read More
When it comes to planning trips, Black consumers feel “shut out” of the travel market
News / Online
When it comes to planning trips, Black consumers feel “shut out” of the travel market
By Jill Menze | June 22, 2020
For years, Black travelers have been voicing concern about the challenges they face planning and going on trips. Is the industry ready to listen? Read More
Airbnb partners with Broadway, the Olympics, IGLTA and TikTok for virtual Experiences
News / Online
Airbnb partners with Broadway, the Olympics, IGLTA and TikTok for virtual Experiences
By Jill Menze | June 17, 2020
The new lineup is an extension of the company’s pivot to virtual activities in April in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Read More
Airbnb seeks to help local tourism as cross-border travel remains uncertain
News / Distribution
Airbnb seeks to help local tourism as cross-border travel remains uncertain
By Linda Fox | June 11, 2020
Airbnb is working with tourist organizations and governments to help bring local travel back to pre-COVID levels, recognizing that domestic is going to come first. Read More
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